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Chrononutrition, Body Composition, and Resting Metabolic Rate Among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
1Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of Exercise and Physical Fitness, School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China.
Nutrients
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Chrononutrition patterns impact college athletes' body composition more than resting metabolic rate. Regular breakfast and less night eating are key for healthier eating habits in this population.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Sports Science
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Chrononutrition is vital for metabolic health.
- Limited data exists on chrononutrition in Chinese sports-majoring college students.
- This study investigates chrononutrition patterns in this specific demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify chrononutrition patterns in Chinese college students.
- To examine the association between chrononutrition patterns and body composition.
- To explore the relationship between chrononutrition patterns and resting metabolic rate (RMR).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 174 college students from Beijing Sport University.
- Chrononutrition assessed using the Chrononutrition Profile Questionnaire (CP-Q).
- Body composition measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and RMR by indirect calorimetry.
Main Results:
- Frequent night eating correlated with higher BMI (r=0.27, p=0.001).
- Regular breakfast consumption linked to higher muscle mass percentage (β=0.23, p<0.01).
- Sports-majoring students exhibited longer eating windows and higher dinner energy intake compared to non-sports-majoring students.
Conclusions:
- Chrononutrition is more strongly associated with body composition than RMR in Chinese sports-majoring college students.
- Regular breakfast and reduced night eating are potential targets for chrononutrition interventions.
- Findings should be cautiously generalized to the wider college student population.
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